VA-Birders,
Five birders from the Northern Virginia Bird Club enjoyed a walk along
Mawavi Road in Prince William Forest Park on Saturday, June 11. We
hoped to see and hear evidence of breeding of many of our piedmont
songbirds, and we did, although as will be the case in the deep forest,
more birds were heard than seen. The songs of OVENBIRDS, RED-EYED
VIREOS, ACADIAN FLYCATHERS, and WOOD THRUSHES filtered through the
woods as we drove the Scenic Drive. PINE WARBLERS, NORTHERN PARULAS,
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were on territories in
good numbers along Mawavi, as were a few SCARLET TANAGERS. We saw a
pair of BROWN THRASHERS and watched a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO forage at
eye-level. We caught glimpses of a couple of GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATHERS.
EASTERN PHOEBES were on hand near the bridge which most certainly
sheltered their nest. We heard fewer than expected HOODED WARBLERS,
only one, and nobody was willing to leave the trail to approach it more
more closely to catch a view. (Later in the morning, I did find two
others, still only a fraction of the numbers that are present in the
park.)
Thanks to Sandy Holton for co-leading with me.
This beautiful park, the largest piedmont forest in the National Park
system, is a fine destination in summer when the shaded trails provide
good birding and slightly cooler temperatures.
Paula Sullivan
Alexandria
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